Catching up with blogging, and an easy win

I've not been the most active blogger recently, far too much going on in the work world with major decisions imminent that will probably affect my future, as the company re-organises itself in the current economic climate both in the personnel and budget areas.

But back to chess, and my TL season (T56)  is ended. No chances now of reaching the playoffs as wild card, but I think it unlikely.

Results though weren't so bad, considering.

Won 3, drawn 1, lost 2, giving me just above the expectation, so I will see a slight rise in my TL rating, heading back towards 1500.  I mean to put the effort in to analyse and publish this seasons' games, since I think that is really the only way to improve.

I've done very little chess activity outside of the TL games and a few blitz, but I have enjoyed the writings of IM Colin Crouch a lot. He has a sensible view on chess improvement, and a fine attitude to life as well given the serious issues he is overcoming.


He pointed out an obvious win in this position.

Hebden-Williams, Hastings 2012, Black to play

How many of us amateurs would choose the option of  Nxg4+ and accept the draw ?

In fact an " easy" win is available with Nd3+.  Go on work it through, its easy when you play it !


See you again soon on the plus side of a long, cold winter !

Solution to Problem : RB Wormald -1867

Here's the solution for the problem from last week...

Quite straightforward.

The Black King is practically in mate, and if the Queen was out of the way, f4 would deliver it.

So, the solution is to remove the Queen with Rxe2 ?

Well, no  In practical terms, ie in a game, that will work, although mate will take longer.

To solve in two, its simply Be4. No matter what Black plays, a mate can be delivered.

Be4 wins !

Problem : RB Wormald -1867

A relatively straightforward Mate in 2, courtesy of  Mr RB Wormald.

[3R1r2/7N/8/3pkPN1/3p2Kb/1pP2Ppp/4q3/1Br1Rb2 w - - 0 1]
White to Play : Mate in 2

Mate in two  [http://signalman90.blogspot.nl/2013/02/solution-to-problem-rb-wormald-1867.html]

DIY Blunders and Tactics 2

The New Year seems to have flown by, and good intentions, well, not quite fulfilled.

However, its never too late to catch up, so I took the opportunity of the overnight snowfall to look for some more ' home-grown' blunders and tactics...


Below, White has played what should be the losing  move, in Qf2 - f1.

Luckily for him, Black didn't play the sharp move, and a draw was agreed in a few moves.

What should Black play ?

Black to play

Solution  [  Rxg3 wins !  not so simple if white doesn't reply hxg, but Black still gets there ]

Problem : Greenwood 1867

Here you go...a problem from 1867, courtesy of a Mr W. Greenwood.

The original problem stated mate in 4, but in 2013 , a mate in 3 is also there ( thanks to Houdini for confirming it :)

Enjoy !

White to play
2B5/5R1K/4p1p1/6kp/4P2R/6P1/8/8 w - - 0 1

Mate in 4 [ 1. Re7 e5 2. Rxe5 Kf6 3. Re6 Kf7 4. Rf4#  ]

Mate in 3 [ 1. Kg7 e5 2.Bf5 gxf 3. Rxf5# ]

DIY Blunders and Tactics

I was looking at the Chess Cafe Books of the year nominations, and saw a new nomination, namely Tactics Time! 1001 Chess Tactics from the Games of Everyday Chess Players by Tim Brennan.

A quick search tells me that, probably, this is a book of tactics( er, technically, a Kindle )  taken from games of us amateurs, although its probably beefed-up/fleshed-out as well. [ I can't check it as I am not a kindle owner, so if anyone has it and can comment ? ]

This reminded me of what I started a couple of years ago, namely using Chess Assistant to find errors in my games and possible tactics.

So I did it again, and its quite fun !  I'd have to refine it, and spend some time looking at the results, but the initial run was interesting.

Here was an example of what I found,.  Its a typical sort of blunder that us patzers make, and similarly the type of simple tactic that we should be spotting !

White has chased the Black Queen, and has played b5. Black has just re-captured with the c-pawn.

In the game, White replied with Rxb5. Is this a good move ? If not, what should he play ?

White to play

Solution [ Rxb5 is losing !  There followed Qxb5, Nxb5, Rxc2 and White resigned. Better was Qb2 ]